Stubborn Demodex

Hello all,

has anyone dealt with really stubborn mange that wont go away? I have read through all the threads in regards to demodex but was curious if there is any new information out. I have a male who will turn 2 in December. He’s had this issue since he was about 4 months old. I’ve treated with Ivermectin daily for 4-6 weeks and it comes back every single time. I also have him(all my dogs) on bravecto flea and tick. Thanks in advance!

 

I owned a dog had worst case of mange I ever seen, he had Demodex, Sarcoptic mange & ring worm all at same time, his head was totally bald, skin dry and cracked, it was even painful for him to blink and yawn, he had bald spots all over his body, his owner wanted to put him down but I asked for the chance to save him and offer him a deserved retirement home.

The vet gave me (griseofulvin) anti-fungal tablets for the ringworm and a body wash (amitraz) for the mange, nothing shifted it and soon realised the vet was just taking my money.. I asked advice from a man called Northern Lad who I considered one of best dogmen in UK (still do) he gave me 1/4 bottle of Ivomec, told me give dog 1 x 0.5 ml injection (SC) every 7 days for 6 weeks and it should clear it, I did what he said and sure enough, it cleared up.

I had meant to reply to @bamaman on the Carona thread a few days ago about his post on merits of an open fire, got distracted somewhere, but IMO bama was so right in what he said about the healing powers of an open fire.. I had a coal/wood burning open fire in place I lived at, brought that mange ridden dog into the house and at night we sat together by the fie, enjoying the heat and watching the red glow of the flames, the dog just lay his head on fire hearth and stared into the flames, I swear that dog wanted to die when I got him, but after a week beside the fire I saw him want to live again right before my eyes.. I was grateful to Northern Lad for curing the mange, but still convinced it was the open fire cured his spirit.

There's other factors might be relevant, I'm not an expert or vet, just giving my opinion and understanding of mange.. First I think main factor in a dog catching mange is suppressed immune system, this can happen for lots of reasons like injury, or any number of stress factors which raises dog's cortisol levels and suppresses immunity, it can even be down to DNA of the individual dog itself, but two dogs from same kennel could both be exposed to mange and if only one has a supressed immune system, then I believe that one will show mange symptoms.

I've got patches of psoriasis, it never goes away, I manage it, but cant shift it.. I believe it's because I'm highly strung, wired to the moon type of person, I get anxiety, and even more so these days since due to age and old injuries, I hardly train now, eat all the wrong things, sit around too much and my body caving in on me!

I'm convinced if a dog doesn't feel safe and happy in his kennel space, then he gets stressed.. If he isn't fed a nutritious diet and exercised daily he gets stressed.. If he doesn't get attention, affection and interplay with owner he gets stressed.. If he spends all day in a kennel navigating his way around turds or the wet reek of disinfectant on the floor of his run, then he gets stressed.

Also if a dog is stressed or immune suppressed going into a keep, then most likely it will show up on coat or skin after show (if not before.) In early 80's nearly every dog I had displayed some type of skin ailment, looking back I think it was due to cheap shit kibble diet and fact I worked them like machines, never spent enough fun or affection time with them, just work-work-work, all output and little input, but stress a dog too much, raise his cortisol levels too high, you start to suppress dogs immune system and usually first place it will show is on the coat.. Just my opinion.

 

I would like to add that change the food to meat and raw based

 

Don't bred with dogs with a history of Demodex behind them, there is a big change/risk that they throw it in their pups.
And stress is bad for animals and humans alike, so chill out, LOL.
Great posts.
@oldguy
@slim12

 

That's great slim12, I'm putting that recipe in my book, It's great having access to such a wealth of experience & opinions on this site, thanks a lot fellas.

 

Great informative posts @oldguy and @slim12 ... thanks .... i agree it is passed to pups from the mother ... the vet told me that bulldogs are really prone to it ? .. ive had a lot of trouble with ear infections over the years ..the dogs and me lol ... they are a pain to shift .... i came back from spain one year and couldnt shift an ear infection ... doc gave me a fee different types of anti biotics but none would shift it... saw another doctor and he tried me on a type of eye drop that he said hadnt been marketed for ear infections yet ... it cleared it up straightaway !

 

@oldguy .... spray told me that nkk carolina abbey stuff was bad for mange ?

 

You guys are awesome! I appreciate all the help/advice. Will certainly be taking all the advice and applying it. Thank you all!

 

http://www.apbt.online-pedigrees.com/modules.php?name=Public&file=printPedigree&dog_id=608377
Sprayman was right mate, the Carolina Abbey stuff was plagued by mange, a common feature in both Bazo and Panda every time I worked them, I was constantly treating it in them white dogs, heard others were too.

 

Hey slim, for that home remedy. Do you mix them together in a stay bottle and spray the entire dog with it? Thanks brother.

 

Well said Oldguy. I also believe that too.

 

Never dealt with it. Lot of great info on it though.

 

It is such a pain in the ass. Especially considering I really like this damn dog.

 

I treated one of my dogs with a case of mange too my vet sold me a can of tack told me to put two tenths of a cc in a bowl of water and wear rubber gloves and sponge bathe him each night for 2 weeks it cleared it up. but he recommended me not to breed the dog which I did not breed at all.I have not used it in 20 years and have not seen it. it's called tack I paid 60.00 for a can of tack.Anybody else used it or heard of it. Slim or Oldguy

 

I never heard the name 'Tack' before @david63 maybe it's same formula as 'Amitraz' that I used, but just under different brand name? Stuff I used was a wash and you covered the dog with it, think you had to mix it with water, had to wear gloves and if you opened the bottle anywhere near a flame it would have blown you to kingdom come! Looking back now, when you need to put that shit on a dog to cure a skin condition, maybe we have to ask if we're doing right by the dog?

None of the Reid's descended dogs I owned were prone to mange, that's why I dug deep to save CH. Curstopper, especially knowing what he'd been through, but when I think of what @reids skipper said about the Carolina Abbey dogs, and what @F.W.K. said about never breeding to dogs that's prone to mange, I think now I'd do some research and if entire family of dogs was prone to mange, I'd dump them, even if I liked them for all number of reasons, if they was prone to mange then they'd be gone!

 

Nice read...

smoke from a fire kills bacteria.
When i light a fire in the woods i stand right buy it and pull my top and let the smoke go up it.
bugs and flys and other iritating creepy crewlies are kept at bay also.
i constantly stink of smoke.
are anseters were of this oppinion to,and belived a fire warned away all sorts of evils,from demons to illnesess.
Certain woods also give of certain vapours.thats why you dont cook with pine.some of these vapours act as a naturel balsam..or along the same lines.
all armys are known for saying a fire boosts moral.
i agree.stiring into a fire is theraputuc.....and it maywell be for a dog to.

All the best.

 

Oldguy that sounds about right the same when you open the can of tack you had to be outside because the vapor were so bad. you would sponge bathe the dog from top to bottom and disregard everything when you're through with it.The vet I used to go to 30 years ago is still practicing he is 92 years old now.He only sees a couple of people a week now.Dr. Gradous.

 

That right Soze.

 

Maybe David?
or superstious medievil garb?

Im more of the primative type oppose to the scientific type.
but without science we'd be fckd.